The pilots of the F-18s managed to eject before their aircraft crashed into the sea

Two Spanish Airforce pilots escaped with their lives off Gran Canaria after a mid-air collision some 60 miles off the island’s south eastern coast this Tuesday afternoon. The two F-18 aircraft crashed into the sea, but their pilots managed to eject in time to avoid going down with the planes.

They were evacuated to their airbase in Gando and from there were transferred to hospital where doctors were checking their condition.

Three pilots died in Albacete this January when two F-1 Mirage fighters from Los Llanos airbase crashed mid-air between El Bonillo and Ossa de Montiel. Their crew were on a training exercise when the accident took place.